Page 33 of Project: FU (Longwood U #3)

NOLAN

I split my time between the frat house and my new home with Tavis. I also have my friends come to the condo to study and hang out. The Whitaker twins have even spent the night a few times when it’s gotten late.

There are times when I can’t believe this is my life. At the beginning of the school year, I was obliviously happy with Kelsey. I thought I was in love with her. I saw a future for us together.

Since then, I’ve felt like my heart has been ripped from my chest, made some really stupid, asshole mistakes, and had my heart put back together, better than its original form.

I thought that balancing frat duties and life with Tavis was going to be a challenge, but so far, it’s not been bad at all. I’ve always loved being in the frat house. I love being surrounded by my friends and the craziness that is a bunch of young guys together under one roof.

When I was with Kelsey, I hadn’t wanted to move out of the frat house, though she mentioned—not as subtly as she thought she was—getting an apartment together. I’d been reluctant to change my living situation, though.

In hindsight, I can only imagine why she wanted to live together. At the time, I thought it was further proof that she felt the same way I did about us. Now I wonder what her actual motive was behind the suggestion.

It’s different now. I love life at DIK. I miss it a little when I’m home with Tavis for a few days. But I’m ready for this new life too. I’m so fucking ready to wake up to Tavis every morning. To spend days off lounging around together.

Or maybe taking turns riding dick all day. I could go with either option enthusiastically.

However, our lives are still wrapped up with school. The year is coming to an end with finals just around the corner. Tavis’ team is making it to the college-level playoffs, but he’s not sure they’re going to make it into the Final Four. There are some really tough teams to beat.

While he’s with his team, I usually hang out on campus at DIK. With Arek’s dick business, which he’s thoughtfully called Fuck You, and Kylen’s new key party venture, there’s a lot to do.

It’s rare that I’m home at the condo alone.

The silence is weird. As I wander around aimlessly, I realize that my entire life, I’ve never been around this kind of silence.

With five fathers and five older siblings, not to mention the neighborhood filled with other kids and large families, this silence is entirely unfamiliar.

I went from that life to college. My short stint in the dorm was loud. Very, very loud, surprisingly. Then I moved into the DIK house, and that was even more chaotic. Neither in a bad way. It was all familiar chaos comparable to home.

But now, the walls are silent. The halls are silent. I can’t even hear noise from outside unless I open a window or step outside onto the balcony.

I’m not sure how I feel about the silence, though. Do I hate it? Will it just take some time to get used to? Should I put the television on? Music? Call my family so there are other voices in the house?

I jump when there’s a knock on the door. Oh, thank fuck. Someone to entertain me for a minute. It’s going to take some time learning to live in silence when I’m alone.

I yank the door open and meet Skye’s eyes.

I’ve seen him often on campus, and we always stop to talk. There’s not a single time when I don’t feel some guilt over the way I used him, and the urge to apologize is never far from my tongue. But I think we’re repairing our friendship, for which I’m thankful.

I know how much Tavis cherishes his time with his kids. Especially his boys. They’ve always had a special bond. We want them to feel comfortable coming over and spending time here.

This is the first time one of them has shown up, though. We’ve only been here for a couple weeks, so it’s not like years have passed. Still, I think their absence has already started to make Tavis sad.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Hi,” Skye says, cheeks pinkening.

Damn this guy. Why is he always so fucking cute? I grin. “Sorry. Come in.” I take a step back to give him room.

Skye steps inside, which is when I notice the duffle bag in his hand.

“Tavis is at hockey,” I say. “He should be home in an hour or so.”

He nods as he looks around.

“Everything okay?”

Skye sighs. “Think I can stay here a while?”

“Yes, of course. But I repeat, is everything okay?”

His smile is soft. “Yeah. I just don’t think I like campus living. It’s not for me.”

“Ah. Yeah, you can totally stay here. There are two bedrooms this way.” I lead him toward the hall. “You can have your pick of either.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” he asks.

“Not at all. Tavis is going to love that you’re here.”

He grips my arm, and our eyes meet. “But do you mind?”

“Why would I mind?”

“Because you’re beginning a life with my dad. Me being here is kind of interrupting that.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t given that much thought. No more sex on the dining room table, I suppose. But it’s not forever. Skye is an adult. Even if he’s here for a couple years while he gets on his feet, we still have our entire lives ahead of us.

I twist my arm in his and take his hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to stay here, Skye.”

His smile is small, shy. Always shy. He squeezes my hand in return and pulls away.

“It’s convenient that we have your belongings in our storage unit,” I muse as I leave him to choose a room. His belongings were supposed to go to Rachel’s, but they’d ended up here once Orion’s bike and Tavis’ tools filled her garage.

Skye laughs quietly. “Thanks,” he says as I walk away.

This is better. There’s someone else here. Although maybe it’ll be awkward. Is it awkward? Should it be awkward? Have we talked enough about what happened between us so we’ve cleared the bridge? Should I say more? Apologize again?

I turn when he steps back into the open space and looks around.

“Want a tour?” I ask.

Skye nods.

“We can see the whole place from here. Kitchen, dining, living. You saw the two spare bedrooms. The other two doors are a linen closet and a half bath right there. At the end of the hall is mine and Tavis’ room.”

Skye studies the open area.

“Your mom decorated,” I offer. “Although I think that teddy bear on the chair is a Hannah touch. She was here over the weekend.”

“Is Dad upset I haven’t been here?”

“I think he’s sad that he doesn’t see you every day like he used to,” I say.

“He loved driving to and from school with you. He misses that. I think both your parents are afraid that this separation of living means they’ll see their kids less and less, which I’ve tried to remind Tavis that it’s the natural progression of kids.

They grow up and move out. They build their own lives. ”

He nods slowly. “I miss him, too.”

“Tell him that. Want something to eat? Drink?” I walk toward the kitchen.

“No, I’m good.”

“Are you sure? I’m not used to having so much alone time, and I feel fidgety.”

Skye laughs quietly. Everything about him is quiet. Sex with him was quiet. Quiet moans, quiet whimpers. His orgasms were a series of quiet gasps. His body made all the noise with every response to my touch.

I shake the memory away. What the hell? We will not be thinking about our boyfriend’s son like that again, I mentally tell my dick. No longer appropriate.

“If you really want to feed me, I won’t complain,” Skye says.

“Cool. I was thinking of making a snack, anyway.”

That’s a lie, but reason enough to put Skye at ease with me preparing something for him.

As I move through the kitchen with him sitting at the island, conversation comes easily enough.

I’ve noticed over the past few months that we don’t have a lot in common, and yet, there has never been any awkward silence between us, either.

We bounce between topics, letting the conversation lead us wherever it goes. I sit beside him as we eat the melted cheese and tomato crostini I whipped up.

I leave him there to take a piss. On my way back, the front door opens, and my man is home. I grin, changing my trajectory to be in his arms.

There’s no exchange as his mouth lands on mine and he kisses me hotly. His hand drops to my ass, grabbing it roughly and making my cock jump in excitement. I try to tell him that Skye is here, but his hand on the back of my head keeps my mouth locked with his as he kisses me like a porn star.

I grunt when his hand slips into my pants and presses against my hole. My hips jerk to him and it’s getting harder to remember why we can’t fuck just inside the door right now.

His mouth leaves mine, and he spins me in his arms so my back is to his chest. I swallow air. “Tavis—” My attempt at telling him about Skye is cut off again when his hand sinks beneath my pants and grips my cock tightly.

My head falls back as I groan. His mouth moves wetly over my neck. His hand moves over my dick, tugging at my balls, rubbing his finger over my slit as I shiver in his old.

The scrape of the stool against the tile in the kitchen has Tavis freezing. He picks up his head as I try once again to catch my breath. “I tried to tell you,” I say.

His hand squeezes my cock again, making my body twitch. I grunt. Then he pulls his hand out of my pants.

“Sorry,” Tavis says.

“I can… come back?” Skye suggests.

“No, I’m sorry. Had I known anyone was here…”

“It’s fine. It’s your house,” Skye says, shifting awkwardly on his feet.

“Skye wants to stay here for a while,” I volunteer, hopefully breaking through this weird moment.

“Oh. Yes, that’s fine.”

“I don’t?—”

I sigh and take a step away from Tavis as I adjust my hard dick in my pants. “I promise we’ll be more mindful.” I give Tavis a pointed look.

Tavis laughs and runs his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I’d love for you to stay here.”

I leave them there and head back into the kitchen to busy myself with cleaning up and allowing them a minute to talk. There’s no privacy in this wide-open space, though.

“Maybe I should have called,” Skye says.

“No. You can be here whenever you want.”

I glance up in time to see Skye give Tavis a bemused look. “Yeah?”

Tavis laughs. “I’m sorry you saw that. I didn’t mean to cause you nightmares.”

Skye gives Tavis a strange look. I’m not sure Tavis notices, but I take note of it. I’ll have to make sure that he’s okay after seeing his father grope me in front of the door later.

“You’re always welcome to stay with us as long as you want, but is everything okay on campus?” Tavis asks.

“Yeah,” Skye answers. “I just… I don’t think that’s my scene. I prefer the quiet of home. And I missed you.”

I steal a peek again and see Tavis smile. He reaches for his son and pulls him in for a hug. Our eyes meet, and I smile before turning away.

“I miss you, too, Skye. I’m really happy you’re here.”

“Me, too, but are you sure you don’t mind? You and Nolan… it’s new, and I don’t want to be in the way.”

Tavis meets my eyes again, and I smile once more. I don’t mind that he’s here at all. I hope he sees that in my smile.

“We don’t mind,” Tavis assures him. “I want you to feel comfortable and welcome wherever I am, Skye. Always. I never want you to think that you’re interrupting.”

“How often is that the way you greet each other? Should I make note of the times you come home?”

Tavis laughs. “I’m so sorry.”

Skye shakes his head. He takes a step back and glances at me.

“Want to get your things from the storage unit?” Tavis asks, holding up his keys.

“Yes. Thanks.”

Tavis nods.

“Want me to take my time out there?” Skye asks, his eyes glinting with mirth.

Tavis huffs and shoves him toward the door. “Go. I’ll be there to help you in a minute.”

“I’ll just wait for you before coming back inside,” Skye says as he turns for the door.

Tavis joins me in the kitchen and wraps his arms around me. “I tried to warn you,” I tell him again.

“My bad. I’ve been thinking of being on your cock all day. Thank fuck for Mo and Raymond, or practice would have been a waste of time.”

I grin. “You’ll have to ride me in our room like an old vanilla couple.”

He sighs dramatically. “Fine. We’ll make do.”

I kiss his cheek.

“You don’t mind him staying here, do you?”

“Not at all. I really love your kids.” Most of them. I don’t bother to say that, though. I don’t think there’s a need to at this point.

“But you didn’t sign up for multiple roommates or stepfather duties.”

“If you ask me to take one of them to T-ball, we’ll have to have a discussion.

” Tavis snorts. “And actually, I did sign up for all of that. I’m not going into this with you blindly.

I’m well aware you have four kids, of whom you’re pretty close with—well, most of them.

I expect them to be around often. I don’t want you to ever feel like you have to choose between spending time with them or me.

I want us to be able to hang out together. ”

“I love you,” Tavis says. My heart jumps every time I hear those words. I know he means them. They’re significant. Not just words tossed out there. “With everything in me.”

“I’m not in you yet. Patience.” He pinches my hip, and I laugh. “I love you. I expect my love will grow all the time.”

“Mm. Not to sound corny, but mine already has.” He kisses me. “I’m going to help Skye. He’s already going to rib me for having to wait there a few minutes.”

“Will it be a five-minute-man tease?” I muse.

“Oh, probably. I’ll take his ribbing. I love that he’s here.”

I smile as I watch Tavis head for the door. I don’t hate that Skye’s here either.